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SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the 6th of JANUARY, 1948 by Registered as a newspaper
THURSDAY, 8 JANUARY, 1948
THE FINAL STAGES OF THE NAVAL WAR IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE. The following despatch was submitted to the for the most vital ports were formed, and who Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the throughout, by his personal interest in the ^th December, 1945, by Admiral Sir progress of the planning, had done everything HAROLD M. BURROUGH, K.C.B., possible to make matters go smoothly. K.B.E., D.S.O., British Naval Commander- 5. The co-operation and assistance received in-
their lines of communication where they crossed 2. Early in March, 1945, a force of L.C.M.s the sea. This had 'been their primary role and L.C.V.(P)s*, known as Force " U " and since the 6th June, 1944, but with the supple- under the command of Captain P. H. G. James, mentary , operations undertaken during these ,R.N., was formed! to assist the, 2ist Army months, and the preparation of the naval Group in crossing the Rhine. forces of occupation, the period becomes one of A corresponding force of United States greater naval activity than any since the days landing craft had been formed the previous of maintenance over the beaches. winter to assist the American Armies, and both 4. More than the other Services, the United British and U.S. craft were transported overland States and British Navies felt the demands with their crews and all equipment in tank of the Naval War in the Far East during this transporters. time, with the resultant considerable with- In fact, only L.C.V.(P)s were used on drawals from the naval strength at my disposal. account of their greater manoeuvrability and With many unknown commitments ahead and they proved extremely useful for such jobs as many plans awaiting fruition, this reduction towing sections of pontoon bridges. They also in our naval strength would have caused me did a certain amount of ferrying, notably in the more uneasiness had I not had ample evidence American sector where they did valiant work that fortitude and hard work would enable the under fire in the Remagen Bridge area. Allied Navies to accomplish all that was re- quired of them, despite reductions in their 3. At the request of the Allied Armies, small strength. boom and asdic parties were supplied at the Rhine crossing with the object of preventing 5. In these latter days, the French Navy was German midget submarines, explosive boats rapidly gaming in strength and it was a proud and saboteur swimmers from interfering with moment when French Naval Forces took part our communications. All were of great assist- in the operation for the liberation of-Bordeaux, ance as the Germans made some determined but the first major operation they had undertaken fruitless efforts with these weapons. under my command. 4. On the lower Rhine and West Scheldt 6. But it is to the combined work of the estuary, the naval Force " T ", under Captain United States and British Navies that the future A. F. Pugsley, C.B., D.S.O., R.N., con- historian will turn for an example of faultless tinued to be responsible for the protection of team work and mutual understanding between the seaward flank of our Armies and carried out nations, that may be equalled in the future but a constant succession of Commando raids, surely never surpassed. Tradition and custom, mostly by L.C.A.,f on the enemy's positions in the parents of procedure, are very deeply the area. These raids were almost uniformly rooted in all Navies and when one Navy is successful. placed under the Commander-in-Chief of 5. Craft of both Force " T" and Force another nationality, the procedure of his own ".U " took part in the final crossings of the Service must^be paramount in both. No ex- Rhine when the Canadian Army was advancing ception occurred in this case, and the United westward into Holland. States Navy readily adapted itself to the re- quirements of a closely knit British Naval Tasks facing the Allied Navies after the Rhine organisation.. Crossing. 7. The foundations of this, the most fruitful 6. With the crossing of the Rhine accom- and harmonious naval combination of all time, plished, a survey of the wider scene found the were laid by my predecessor, the late Admiral Allied Navies charged with the following Sir Bertram H. Ramsay, K.C.B., K.B.E., variety of tasks: — M.V.O., and I am proud to be able to claim (a) The provision of specialised seagoing that the co-operation between our two Services ships and craft required for the maintenance has grown no less since his passing. of the Allied Annies in the field, together 8. As the best expression of my feelings at with the responsibility shared with the Com- the time of the termination of our great enter- mander-in-Chief, The Nore, for .the pro- prise, I reproduce the messages made by me tection of merchant shipping used for the on the occasions of the termination of the same purpose. Supreme Command and the last U.S. Naval (6) The working of the ports through Forces leaving the European Theatre of Opera- which the main stream of military imports tions, together with the replies made by your- flowed. Some 10,000 tons of stores on self and Admiral H. R. Stark, Commander, British account and 20,000 tons on U.S. U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. account were passing through Antwerp daily, while the main personnel traffic passed (Signed}. H. M. BURROUGH, through Ostend and Calais in the British zone Admiral. and Le Havre in the U.S. zone. (c) Preparation of Naval Parties to GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWE-R, U.S. Army, participate in the occupation of Germany Supreme Commander, including the provision of an operational Allied Expeditionary Force. Port Party to open the port of Hamburg. Arrangements for naval representation on the THE FINAL STAGES OF THE NAVAL WAR IN S.H.A.E.F. Missions to Denmark and NORTH-WEST EUROPE. Norway. The direct contribution of the Allied Navies * Admiralty footnote: L.C.M.—landing craft for to the crossing of the Rhine was the assistance mechanised transport. they provided at the crossing, and to the Armies L.C.V.(P)—landing craft for personnel. operating on the western flank in the east • f Admiralty footnote: L.C.A.—landing craft for Scheldt area. assaulting troops.- SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 193 (d) The provision of naval assistance for horn) which was considered necessary to enable the reduction of pockets of resistance on the minesweeping operations to begin in the Weser- west coast of France. Most of these pockets and Elbe Estuaries. had only -nuisance value to the immediate war effort but importance was attached to the Protection of Shipping. early opening of the port of Bordeaux and 10. Throughout this .period much atten- operations were in train to this end. tion and effort were given to reducing (e) The protection of the Scheldt the threats to shipping. caused by sub- u marines, E-Boats, midget submarines and Approaches. • . mines. Especially in the Scheldt Approaches (/) Naval measures to bring speedy relief there were almost daily clashes with the enemy to Holland. either by the naval forces, which were working (g) The planning of operations to occupy under Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, or by the Channel Islands after surrender, and to the local patrol craft operating under Rear- occupy Norway under a variety of con- Admiral F. E. 'P. Hutton, the Flag Officer, ditions. • Belgium. • ii. Despite efforts for their protection a cer- Prospects of Opening a North German Port. tain number of merchant ships was damaged 7. Of. these widespread problems the first one and sunk by these attacks and due tribute brought into prominence after the . Rhine must be paid to the courage and steadfastness crossing was the opening of a North German of their crews 'as well as to the efforts made port. This project had long been discussed by the escorting warships to prevent casualties. and in the event of prolonged resistance the opening of such a port might become a vital Operations on the West Coast of France need, though it was agreed that such an early (Operation " Venerable "}. opening was not in the circumstances, as they 12. Of the German pockets remaining on the then were, an urgent necessity; nor in fact was it west coast of France, most had nuisance value a feasible project from the naval point of view only, but it was considered essential to reduce to open a port as quickly as Army requirements the pockets astride the Gironde Estuary so would prefer, particularly the port most that the port of Bordeaux could be opened. required, Hamburg. It was established that Plans for this operation had originally been owing toJthe shortage of minesweepers and the made the previous November under the code- necessity for being prepared to'open Dutch name -" Independence," but the operation had ports concurrently for civil relief, only one to be postponed on account of the Ardennes German port could be opened at a time. Apart - push. These were now brought up to date, from the limitations likely to be imposed by the and it was decided to carry out the operation minesweeping conditions, particularly the with a target date of I5th April under the code-, difficulties of sweeping our own mines, it was name " Venerable." necessary for all resistance to have ceased along The naval tasks being: — the Dutch, and North-West German coasts (an) Bombardment, primarily in the Ponte before minesweeping could be started. The de Grave area, of enemy armament which reduction of Heligoland and neutralisation of could bear on friendly ground and Air Force: enemy batteries on Wangerooge* were also essential before the Elbe Approaches could be (6) To remove sunken blockships and swept. • scuttled shipping to clear the Channel to (Bordeaux; preliminary work had been in 8. Subject to these considerations naval plans progress since October, 1944, by French con- had always been based on the assumption that tractors with the assistance of the U.S. Navy^. Hamburg would be the port to be opened on British account, though recent Army opinion (c) The minesweeping necessary to sweep had considered Emden as an alternative if the entrance to the Gironde Estuary and enemy resistance was sustained. ' The opening the river. of Bremen, with the exception of the mine- 13. It was later decided that the reduction • sweeping, would be an American responsibility of the He d'Oleron was also essential to the as that port was to work on United States opening of the Estuary and River. A supple- account, and by now the landward and sea- mentary operation, code-name " Jupiter," was ward limits of the Bremen enclave had been therefore planned to achieve this. It included finally established. bombardment of targets on the island and trans- port of personnel and equipment for the 9. Apart from the reduction of Heligoland, assault. which H.M.S. ROBERTS and H.M.S. ERE- BUS were being held ready to bombard after 14. Bordeaux was to be opened by French the major work of neutrailisation had been ground forces under General de rArminat. The accomplished by Bomber Command, plans were naval operations were under the command of in hand1 for assaults on the main Frisian Islands Commander Task Force 122 (Vice-Admiral on which it was' estimated that the German A. G. Kirk, U.S.N.) and Contre-Amiral Rue naval personnel alone amounted to over was in command of the French Naval Task 12,000. With naval assistance, landward assaults Force which consisted of the French ships were planned as being the more economical LORRAINE and DUQUESNE with destroyer and the First Canadian Army was responsible and» minesweeper support. for those on Wangerooge and Alte Mellun, 15. The 'bombarding ships arrived in an area while the Second Army was to ibe responsible to the south-west of Ponte de Grave which had for the reduction of the two islands off the been previously swept for mines, and LOR- Cuxhaven Peninsula (Neuwerk and Schar- RAINE, DUQUESNE and the destroyers car- * Admiralty footnote: Wangerooge—the eastern- ried out shoots on pre-arranged targets on I5th most of the East Frisian Islands, and J6th' April, then withdrawing to Brest, 194 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 16. It was considered that the submarine " fortresses " commanding the ports. It was menace did not warrant the risk of LORRAINE always an essential condition that enemy resist- taking part in Operation " Jupiter," and ance must have ceased before civil relief could DUQUESNE and the destroyers only took begin, but once this condition was fulfilled, the part. DUQUESNE had previously embarked problem became one of providing food and coal at Casablanca a full outfit of ammunition for with the least possible delay as the people of herself and replenishments for the destroyers, West Holland had no reserve whatsoever to fall and the assault on the He d'Oleron was carried back on. It was therefore necessary to have out on 30th April with the French ships bom- a considerable number of minesweeping and barding gun batteries and other targets landing craft at short notice, and to make provi- throughout the day. Twenty-four L.C.V. (P) sion for the latter to be augmented should it be were used as lift for assaulting troops and by necessary to land over the beaches, which nightfall all the southern portion of the island would also have entailed the use of beach was in French hands, and only one of the clearance and beach parties. A Port Repair L.C.V. (P) was lost. Party for Rotterdam under Captain C. D. 17. The subsequent clearance of the Gironde Maud, D.S.O., R.N., had been held in readi- and Garonne Rivers was carried out by French ness hi Belgium since the previous autumn, and naval units, assisted by the 3ist Minesweeping plans were made to introduce this party with Flotilla and the 4th Minesweeping M.L. the minimum delay. Flotilla, all the naval units continuing under 22. With the realisation that their defeat was the command of Commander Task Force 122. imminent, the Germans showed their willing- ness towards the end of April to come to some Relief of the Channel Islands. agreement whereby food and other necessary 18. Plans for the occupation of the Channel supplies could be introduced into Holland under Islands after a German surrender, had been flag of truce. By the ist May details of the started in June, 1944, under the code-name scheme had been agreed with the Germans, and " Nestegg," the operation being mounted from Allied Air Forces commenced dropping emer- Plymouth. Early in May, 1945, it seemed that gency food-stuffs to the Dutch population in ten the capitulation of the German garrison in the selected areas. Royal Air Force and United Channel Islands was imminent and on the 2nd States heavy bombers continued to drop some May the Supreme Commander asked for a 1,500 tons of food a day until 8th May, when" British warship to be at 24 hours' notice to the first Allied coasters arrived in Dutch waters carry his representatives to accept the German and were given safe conduct and access to the surrender. H.M.S. BULLDOG, escorted by port of Rotterdam. H.M.S. BEAGLE, escorted the Supreme Com- mander's representatives, headed by Brigadier Occupation of North German Ports. Snow, to St. Peterport on the 8th May and in 23. For several months preparations for the the early hours of the gth May the surrender despatch of Naval Parties required for the negotiations were completed on the Quarterdeck occupation of North German Ports had been in of H.M.S. BULLDOG. hand under my Chief of Staff (P.H.)*, Rear- Admiral W. E. Parry, C.B., at his Head- 19. On 8th May, the " Nestegg " convoy, quarters in London. consisting of 3 L.S.T., 10 L.C.T.*, mine- sweepers and suitable escort sailed from Ply- 24. As it was not possible to form these Naval mouth. bringing occupational troops and food.- Parties in time to enable them to be ready on Half the convoy went to Jersey and half to .the Continent to move into their ports when Guernsey and a detachment was later sent to required, extemporised arrangements had to be Alderney. made for naval representation and advice to be at the disposal of the British and Canadian 20. During the next few days some 22,000 Army Commanders who would make the prisoners' were evacuated from the Channel advance into the ports. Islands in the same ships and craft and on the i6th May naval responsibility for the Islands 25. This was done by sending the Naval ' passed from A.N.C.X.F. to the Admiralty. Officer-in-Charge {designate) to join the Army Formation concerned. Rear-Admiral G. C. The Relief of Holland. Muirhead-Gould, D.S.C. (Flag Officer, 21. The introduction of food supplies to Hol- Wilhelmshaven (designate)), was appointed tem- land, where by March, 1945, lack of essential porarily to the staff of the Commander-in- food-stuffs was causing both actual starvation Chief, 2ist Army Group. At the same time and an acute political problem, had long been officers of .captain's rank were sent to ifhe planned under the code-name " Placket ". The Headquarters of the First Canadian and Commander-in-Chief, the Nore, and Flag Second British Armies. The officers at these Officer, Holland, under A.N.C.X.F., were three Headquarters were later relieved by mainly responsible for the execution of this officers appointed specifically as Naval Liaison project which had to be planned for a variety Officers, Rear-Admiral Muirhead-Gould being of circumstances. From the naval aspect, these relieved on 3rd May by Captain R. S. Warne, included the ferrying of food in minor landing C.B.E., R.N. craft through the inland waterways, the open- 26. The " Eclipse "f Naval Parties moved ing of a route from the Scheldt to Dordrecht by across the Channel as soon as they were formed which schuyts and barges could pass, the open- and with little or no training. The stores, ing of the main Dutch ports from seaward and which it was essential should arrive in the ports the landing of supplies over selected beaches at the same time as the Parties, had been sent if the enemy concentrated his resistance in •• * Admiralty footnote: P.H.—"Post Hostilities" * Admiralty footnote: L.S.T.—landing ship for Staff. tanks. • | Admiralty footnote: Operation " Eclipse "—the L.C.T.—landing craft for tanks. occupation of the North German Ports. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 195 ahead to Antwerp together with certain harbour and the stories of their early days given in their crait, and these were assembled with the per- reports of proceedings make interesting and sonnel of the Parties in an ex-Belgian Cavalry instructive reading. Camp at Burg Leopold. The diary of the 32. Admiral Baillie-Grohman reports .that movements of these Parties shows how these VE Day was anything but a public holiday for Parties despite their late formation did, with himself and his staff, for on that day, besides the unstinted help of the Army, reach their interviews with German senior officers, he had destinations soon enough to take timely control to cope with 4,000 troops who landed at of the situations in their ports. Eckernforde from landing craft unaware that 27. The actual surrender of the North Ger- the War was over and full of enthusiasm for man Ports began on 26th April when a Naval continuing it. The influx of refugee ships from Officer of 30 Advance Unit (the naval unit the Baltic was a constant source of anxiety to specially formed for the collection of intel- him at the time. ligence) reached the Bremen City Hall at 1030 33. Admiral Muirhead-Gould landed at and accepted the surrender of the city from the Heligoland and accepted its surrender on the acting Bergermeister. U.S. Naval Task Force nth May. He found the island devastated by 126 designated for this port was already on the bombing and almost uninhabitable, but left a Continent and the Commander of this force British Naval Party on the island under the (Rear-Admiral A. G. Robinson, U.S.N.), made command of a Lieutenant-Commander, who a preliminary reconnaissance on the 27th April. on.4the next day found himself compelled to He found that there was no apparent damage place the German Senior Naval Officer under to docks, quays and other harbour installations arrest for his obstructive conduct. " but that warehouses were totally destroyed and prisoners-of-war stated that many mines had Naval Situation in Norway and Denmark at the been sown in the enclosed basins and the ad- Time of Surrender. jacent river. The capacity of the port' was re- 34. The S.H.A.E.F. Mission to Denmark of stricted to some extent by sunken ships and in which the naval element was headed by Rear- fact no war or merchant ships were found Admiral R. V. Holt, C.B., D.S.O., M.V.O., afloat. had arrived in Copenhagen on the 5th May. 28. On the 3rd May the Hamburg garrison It was considered important to make an early surrendered unconditionally, and Commodore show of naval strength in Copenhagen and on H. T. England, D.S.O., who had gone forward the gth May, the cruisers BIRMINGHAM and with. the occupying Army forces entered the DIDO with four destroyers arrived there and port as Commodore-in-Charge. He found the assisted materially in those early and difficult attitude of the port officials cowed tout co- days which are more fully described by Rear- operative. The Port Party for Hamburg was Admiral Holt in his report. Operation not far behind and entered the port two days " Crosskeys" was that designed to provide later. for the early establishment of coastal and mine- 29. The 5th May saw the surrender of all sweeping forces in Danish waters and the German Forces in Germany, Holland and Den- " Crosskeys " convoy, consisting of H.M.S. mark, including the garrisons of Heligoland TASAJERA carrying Coastal Force Mainten- and Frisian Islands, and with the cessation of ance Unit No. 2 together with two Coastal offensive operations all the remaining Naval Force Flotillas, four Minesweeping Flotillas, Parties were able to move into their respec- tankers and other craft carrying stores, arrived tive ports to establish control and initiate in Copenhagen on the 22nd May.' measures for the disarmament of the German . 35. In Norway the first members of the Navy. S.H.A.E.F. Mission arrived at Oslo on the 30. The two British Flag Officers, who were 8th May and Commodore Askin, Royal Nor- to be in command of the naval-forces occupy- wegian Navy, as representative of the Allied ing the ports in the British zone of North Ger- Naval Commander, opened direct negotiations many, were then moving in to set up their with representatives of the German Naval High Headquarters. These Flag Officers were: — Command in Oslo. The British Flag Officer, Norway (Rear-Admiral J. S. M. Ritchie) sailed Rear-Admiral H. T. Baillie-Grohman, from Rosyth in H.M.S. DEVONSHIRE, C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E., whose title then was which was carrying H.R.H. Crown Prince of Flag Officer, Kiel. His command included Norway who landed with his suite on the I3th the naval forces in the area eastward of the May after scenes of enthusiasm from boats Elbe to the Russian border, and his title was carrying crowds of cheering Norwegians as the later altered to Flag Officer, Schlefewig-Hol- ship steamed up the Oslo Fiord. stein. He set up his Headquarters first at Kiel and later at Plon so as to be within easy 36. British Naval Officers-in-Charge desig- reach of 8th Corps Headquarters. nated for the main ports in Norway left Rear-Admiral G. C. Muirhead-Gould, England -in destroyers on I3th May and D.S.C., whose title then was Flag Officer, settled down in their ports to the primary Wilhelmshaven. This was changed later to job of organising mines weeping in the ap- Flag Officer, Western Germany, to indicate proaches to the ports, which was largely better the scope of his command, which in- carried out by German minesweepers under cluded all naval forces in the British zone German supervision. west of the Elbe, and Hamburg. His Head- The Surrender of the German Navy. quarters were first established at Seng- 37. The Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief warden near Wilhelmshaven and later moved had been present at Rheims on the 7th to Buxtehude about 20 miles from Hamburg. May when General Jodl and Grand Admiral 31. These two Flag Officers with the staffs Friedeberg, the plenipotentiaries of the German and Naval Parties under their commands lived High Command signed the unconditional sur- through some adventurous and difficult times render of all the German Land, Sea and Air A2 ig6 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948
Forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary how to proceed to surrender. One small ad- Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High justment to the naval special orders had to be Command. The signature was witnessed by made to include German naval garrisons in Lieutenant-General W. B. Smith on behalf of the Mediterranean, which was outside the the Supreme Commander, General Suslaparoff Supreme Commander's sphere of responsibility. on behalf of the Russians and General Sevez As the orders to Ober Kommando der on behalf of the provisional Government of Wehrmacht in respect of all three services were , France. The Allied Naval Commander-in- not actually issued and as the naval special Chief signed the orders to the German Navy. orders only dealt with matters of naval import, 38. In Berlin on the 8th May, soon after no instructions were in fact issued to the midnight, Field-Marshal Keitel, Grand Admiral German Admiralty (O.K.M.) On such general Friedeberg and General Stumph, the plenipo- matters as orders for prisoners-of-war, German tentiaries of the German High Command, responsibility for maintenance of armed forces signed the unconditional surrender of all the and so on. German Land, Sea and Air Forces to the Allied Use of German Codes and Cyphers. Nations. The Allied Naval Commander-in- 42. On the loth May S.H.A.E.F. (Forward) Chief was present at the signature which was gave instructions to O.K.W.* that no codes witnessed by Air Chief Marshal Tedder, or cyphers were to be used except in the case Marshal Zukov, General Spaatz and General of signals to units of the German Fleet, when de Latre de Tassigny. codes could be used until 2359 on nth May. 39. The orders for the surrender of the It was then realised that the German naval German Fleet were contained in " Eclipse " authorities could not issue instructions in plain Memo. No. i originally issued in July, 1944, language to their U-Boats in the Far Eastern and revised and brought up to date since. waters to comply with the surrender terms be- " Eclipse " Memo. No. i contained the cause the U-Boats might not believe the authen- Supreme Commander's orders to the German ticity of the message and the Japanese would armed forces for the conduct of their surrender probably prevent their leaving. Accordingly when it came, and besides instructions in instructions were given that codes were to be general terms contained specialised orders to used for this special purpose of giving orders the German Navy and Air Force. The naval to U-Boats in Far Eastern waters. isection gave derailed instructions as to the Compliance with naval special orders. conduct of the German Fleet after surrender 43. The German authorities complied with and its initial provisions may be summarised naval special orders as well as circumstances as follows: — permitted and O.K.W. broadcast an order (a) The immediate despatch of a respon- against scuttling on the loth May. The naval sible German Flag Officer to A.N.C.X.F. representatives arrived at the Headquarters of with details of all minefields in North-West British naval authorities in England as in- European waters, of the location of all de- structed and in such numbers that both the partments and branches of the German Commanders-in-chief concerned asked that the Admiralty (Ober Kommando der Kriegs- duplicate parties for which provision had been marine) and details of locations of all ser- made should not be sent. vice warships down to and including Elbing 44. The naval representatives detailed to pro- Class torpedo boats as well as minesweepers ceed to the Headquarters of A.N.C.X.F. arrived and Sperrbrechers. This Flag Officer was to at Rheims p.m. on the loth May and were sent bring with him a Communications Officer under escort to A.N.C.X.F.'s Headquarters. able to explain all communications matters This delegatiqn consisted of Vice-Admiral Ruge, including particulars of the codes and cyphers Rear-Admiral Godt (Submarines) with Com- in current use in the Germany Navy. mander Koltzer as communications officer. . (6) The despatch of responsible officers to These officers' proved most co-operative and the Commanders-in-Chief, The Nore and gave all the information required by the naval Rosyth, with charts of all minefields and special orders except certain hydrographical other navigational information on the North information which could only be produced by Sea. Certain other German naval officers ihe various sub-commands and certain informa- were also to be detailed for specialised duties tion about mines on the western seaboard of with British naval authorities. the Atlantic. These three German officers left (c) Much more detailed information on the A.N.C.X.F.'s Headquarters a.m. on the I4th current state of the German Navy was to May with instructions to provide further infor- be supplied by the German High Command mation; these instructions were complied with to A.N.C.X.F. within 14 days of the surren- to the best of their ability. der. Control of O.K.W. and O.K.M. 40. Orders for the surrender of the German 45. On the gth May A.N.C.X.F. nominated U-Boat fleet were issued iby the Admiralty and Captain G. O. Maund, D.S.O., R.N., and the planning and the co-ordination of the opera- Commander H. C. C. Ainslie, D.S.C., tions necessary to receive the surrender of the R.N.Z.N., as the naval representatives on U-Boats were the responsibility of the Com- General Rook's mission to O.K.W. These offi- mander-in-Chief, Western Approaches. cers left for Flensbiirg by air on the I2th May. 41. When the surrender occurred the naval 46. Captain Sir John M. Alleyne, D.S.O., special orders (which embodied the basic special O.B.E., R.N., was the senior naval represen- orders which had been agreed between the tative on the O.K.M. ministerial control party, British, United States, Soviet and French Naval and he left Versailles for Flensburg on the I4th Authorities) were issued to the German May. On the 15* May A.N.C.X.F. placed Admiralty as they stood, and in addition the Captain Alleyne in charge of O.K.M. Admiralty issued orders by signal to German * Admiralty footnote: O.K.W.—German High submarines at sea giving them instructions on Command Headquarters. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 197.
47. Captain Maund returned to A.N.C.X.F.'s 55. With this in mind, minesweeping of the Headquarters on" the i6th May and was then North Sea route to Heligoland had begun well given a directive placing him as A.N.C.X.F.'s before the surrender and by the gth May a representative in charge of the naval element at force of 44 ships was based at Cuxhaven for O.K.W. and of O.K.M. sweeping the Elbe and its approaches. 48. After the dissolution of O.K.W. on the 56. By this time it was clear that the Ems 23rd May and the arrest of Admirals Doenitz had been mined at Emden and the Weser above and Von Friedeberg amongst a number of Bremerhaven, before the surrender brought other German Senior Naval Officers, command about the cessation of the enemy's policy of of O.K.M. was assumed by Admiral fouling all ports before abandoning them. The Backenkohler; he was succeeded on the 25th Weser to Bremerhaven, the Elbe, the Kaiser May by Admiral Warzecha. Wilhelm Canal and all the West Baltic Ports 49. Captain Alleyne was succeeded on 27th were reported clear of enemy mines. May by Captain E. Hale, R.N., who on Cap- 57. It was decided that the risk of enemy tain Maund's withdrawal became the senior mines could be disregarded in order to admit naval representative at O.K.M. urgent shipping to ports to which reliable intelli- 50. The policy for the control of O.K.M. was gence indicated the routes were clear, and laid down by the Allied Naval Commander-in- urgent traffic was first admitted to Hamburg Chief in a message to Captain Maund on the on the gth May. 6th June. The complete dissolution of O.K.M. 58. British mines had still to be considered" was envisaged in this message," but during the but by mid-May, Bremerhaven, Emden and first phase the main structure of the organisation Kiel (via the Canal) were declared open to was to be retained until certain investigations urgent traffic. had been completed, transfers of German per- sonnel completed and decisions reached on sail- By the ist June, Hamburg and Kiel (via the ings of War and Merchant ships to the United Canal) were open to normal traffic and by Kingdom,' or Allied ports; and arrangements mid-June Bremerhaven also. made for the use of facilities in-German naval dockyards. When this programme had been The Collection of Naval Intelligence. completed, it was envisaged that the opera- 59. Progressively, as the German forces were tional side of O.K.M. should be disbanded rolled back, Intelligence objectives were over- completely and the administrative side reduced taken and exploited until the collapse of the to four or five departments. enemy put us in possession of virtually all his naval secrets. The phase was one more 51. This phase was achieved on the I2th of organising the full exploitation of what came July, when the dissolution of O.K.M. was into our hands than of seeking the targets started and a new organisation for the adminis- themselves, although only the dash and skill tration of the German minesweeping forces em- of 30 Advance Unit and of the U.S. Naval ployed on mine clearance was established. The Technical Mission in Europe saved many of new organisation was brought into force on 2ist the more important " finds " from destruc- July, a week after the Supreme Commander tion. The work of the Royal Naval Field had laid down his office. Intelligence Unit also did much to reveal and 52. It remains to transfer these German mine- preserve these targets. sweeping forces to the Mine Clearance Board which is being established under civil auspices. The Removal of A.N.C.X.F.'s Headquarters to 53. Apart from the long term tasks of control German soil. of the disarmament of the German Navy and 60. Since late September, 1944, A.N.C.X.F.'s the disbandment of its personnel, there Headquarters had been located at the Chateau were two immediate naval problems to be d'Hennement, St. Germain, about six miles dealt with after the surrender. One of these from Versailles and thus convenient to the was the opening of the sea routes to the North main departments of S.H.A.E.F. German Ports and the other the collection of in- telligence, particularly that which might have 61. It was a natural conclusion that a vital bearing on the prosecution of the War A.N.C.X.F. should move to Frankfurt so as against Japan. to be alongside the Supreme Commander's Headquarters, and early in May arrangements to this end were well in hand. The opening of the sea routes to the North German Ports. 62. The intention then was that 54. This problem had to be tackled with A.N.C.X.F.'s " Post Hostilities " Staff, under energy, as it was essential to open the North Rear-AQimral W. E. Parry, C.B., should move German Ports to traffic soon so that warships from London to Minden, where this staff would and merchant ships' required by the Allies be best located to put into execution the plans could be rempved, so that British warships for the control and disarmament of the German could visit German naval ports and so. that the Navy. At Minden they would be ten miles import programme could be started. It was from Bad Oeynhausen, where 2ist Army clear that unless imports of food were made Group Headquarters was being established, soon, a large percentage of the German popu- while Lubbecke to which the British Control lation would starve before long and apart from Commission was shortly to move is eight miles humanitarian scruples, starvation of the Ger- away. man population would have an immediate effect 63. But soon afteii the surrender it seemed on the economic life of the lately occupied coun- likely that the Supreme Allied Command tries which it was our first aim to rehabilitate, would terminate somewhat sooner than had particularly if famine lowered the output of been envisaged and with this in mind it coal from the Ruhr, seemed preferable for A.N.C.X.F.'s Main ig8 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 Headquarters to go to Minden. It was still Combined Command terminates at midnight, necessary, however, for a strong liaison staff I3th July, 1945, and brings to a close one of to be maintained at Supreme Headquarters and the greatest and most successful campaigns ever Rear-Admiral Parry was accordingly made fought. head of this staff, which was established at History alone will judge the Allied Expedi- Frankfurt early in June. A.N.G.X.F.'s tionary Force in its true perspective, but we, Main Headquarters opened at Minden on I5th who have worked and struggled together, can June. feel nothing but pride in the achievements of the men we have been honoured to command, and sadness at having to be parted now. What- EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES ON THE TERMINATION ever history may relate about the exploits of OF THE SUPREME COMMAND. this Allied Force, and the memory of man is The following messages were exchanged on short and fickle, it is only we, at this time, the termination of the Supreme Command: — who can fully appreciate the merit and due worth of the accomplishments of this great From: Admiral Sir H. M. Burrough, •Allied team. K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., Allied Naval Commander - in - Chief, Expeditionary These accomplishments are not limited to the Force. defeat of the Nazi hordes in battle—a con- tinent has been liberated from all that is an To: General of the Armies D. D. antipathy to the ideal of democracy which is Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, our common heritage. Above all, we have. Allied Expeditionary Force. proved to the whole world that the British and American peoples can forever be united in Tomorrow, for the first time, the United purpose, in deed and in death for the cause of States Ensign will not be flown over my Head- liberty. quarters, and the hauling down of " Old Glory " tonight will mark the end of one of This great experiment of integrated com- the happiest associations in a Combined Com- mand, whose venture was cavilled at by some mand which has probably ever existed. and doubted by many, has achieved unqualified success, and this has only been made possible 2. It is with great and sincere regret that I by the sympathetic, unselfish and unwavering myself and the officers and men of the Royal support which you and all other commanders Navy who have had the privilege of serving have wholeheartedly given me. Your own under your inspiring leadership realise that our brilliant performance is already a matter of association has drawn to a close. For the rest history. of our lives we shall remember this association My gratitude to you is a small token for the with great pride in the fine achievements of the magnificent service which you have rendered, United Team which you have led to Victory and my simple expression, of thanks sounds in Europe. totally inadequate. Time and opportunity pro- 3. On behalf of all my Command, and all hibit the chance I should like to shake you and members of the Royal Navy who have had the your men by the hand, and thank each one of privilege of serving under 'you as Supreme you personally for all you have done. I can Commander, I wish you continued success, do nothing more than assure you of my lasting lasting good health and happiness in your appreciation, which I would ask you to convey future, which we know will be as brilliant as to all those under your command for their has been your past. exemplary devotion to duty and for the most magnificent loyalty which has ever been shown to a commander. . From: General of the Armies D. D. Eisenhower. MESSAGES EXCHANGED BETWEEN A.N.C.X.F. To: Admiral Sir H. M. Burrough, K.C.B., AND COMNAVEU ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE K.B.E., D.S.O. LAST U.S. NAVAL FORCES FROM THE EURO- With warm personal regard and appreciation PEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. and best wishes for your continued success, I truly appreciate your generous message. While From: Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief, I have already sent out a general expression of Expeditionary Force. gratitude to the entire Command, I think it To: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in appropriate to record the deep sense of grati- fication I have felt towards the Royal Navy Europe. because of the unvarying efficiency, loyalty The departure on the gth July of the remain- and aggressiveness with which its contingents ing United States Landing Ships and Craft have served under me during the past three from the United Kingdom brings to an end the years. Both in the Mediterranean and in this largest combined amphibious force that has theatre I have found nothing among the per- yet been assembled. The work of the L.S.T.s sonnel of the Royal Navy but cheerful co- and Landing Craft of both nations during the operation and a determination to see the job assault and subsequent build-up has been one through that have made my association with it long record of harmonious co-operation, the one of the truly pleasing experiences of this ships of each nation in their turn bearing and whole war. I regret our separation which, for being glad to bear as much of the burden as my part, is a physical one only. In spirit I their capacity would allow. shall always remain closely associated with Not only have the L.S.T.s carried immense all the elements that have worked so effectively numbers of vehicles of all sorts and descriptions together in the tasks assigned us by the Conv but they have also carried large numbers of bined Chiefs of Staff. men safely across dangerous waters. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 JANUARY, 1948 199
1 hope you will express the thanks of the soon due to leave the United Kingdom. It Allied. Naval Command to the officers and is with real pleasure that I pass it along to men of all ships now departing from the United COMPHEBCRAFT I2th to be made known to Kingdom for the great part they have played all hands. The close and happy relationships in the Liberation of Europe. We are indeed that have grown up between A.N.C.X.F. and sorry to say good-bye to them. . the Amphibious Forces of our two nations have From: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in been a source of great satisfaction. Europe. There will be many regrets at saying good- To: Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief,' bye but there will also be the realisation that Expeditionary Force. the friendships made will be lasting and the Thank you for your message of farewell to hope that in years to come they will often be the officers and men of our amphibious forces revived.
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